Process for producing a tubular component

ABSTRACT

Process for producing a tubular component which comprises sections which are intentionally different from one another with regard to one or more aspects selected from the group consisting of aspects including material, thickness, size, more specifically circumference or diameter, and the like, and hydroforming of the component, in which process the component is produced by rolling up a substantially flat sheet, which flat sheet substantially corresponds to a flat blank of the tubular component.

[0001] The invention relates to a process for producing a tubular component which comprises sections which are intentionally different from one another with regard to one or more aspects selected from the group consisting of aspects including material, thickness, size, more specifically circumference or diameter, and the like, and hydroforming of the component.

[0002] A known method for (de)forming tubular components is the method known as hydroforming. In this method, the wall of a section of pipe is pressed against a shaped part or die under the influence of, for example, water pressure. The hydroforming technique is generally known and therefore requires no further explanation here. If the section of pipe is also to be bent, a bending action is carried out prior to and separately from the hydroforming, the bent section of pipe then being provided with the ultimately desired shape by hydroforming, In this way, it is possible to make numerous very complicated shapes which are used in engineering, for example in the automotive industry.

[0003] Furthermore, it is known that it is possible to make the component to be hydroformed particularly suitable for certain applications by making the component not from a section of pipe of uniform cross section and wall thickness, but rather assembling the section of pipe from various pipe elements which adjoin one another, are to be welded to one another and have, for example, wall thicknesses which (locally) differ from one another and/or a change in diameter. Pipe sections of this pipe are also known as “tailored tubular blanks”.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide another method for producing tailored tubular blanks of this type.

[0005] The present invention relates to a process for producing a tubular component having over at least part of its length a widening or tapering section, comprising the steps of:

[0006] joining together flat sheet parts which differ from one another, at least one of the sheet parts being trapezium-shaped,

[0007] bringing together opposite edges of the joined sheet parts and joining the edges in such a manner that the tubular component formed in this way can be hydroformed, and hydroforming the component.

[0008] In the process referred to in the preamble, this is achieved by the fact that the component is produced by rolling up a substantially flat sheet, which flat sheet substantially corresponds to a flat blank of the tubular component.

[0009] In the context of the present application, the term rolling up is to be understood as meaning bringing together opposite edges of the sheet, in any suitable way, and joining these edges in such a manner that the tubular component formed in this way can be hydroformed.

[0010] In this way, by starting from flat tailored blanks which are easy to make and rolling them up in order to convert them in tailored tubular blanks, it is possible to produce tubular components which can be successively hydroformed, for example a B pillar of an automobile made by hydroforming of a trumpet-shaped tube section which is made from a flat sheet pant which has been cut in such a manner that it is in the form of a rectangle and trapezium which have been placed against one another.

[0011] In particular, according to the invention the procedure is such that the flat sheet is obtained by joining together sheet parts which differ from one another.

[0012] In doing so, it is possible to provide one part of the section of pipe, for example the part which is derived from the abovementioned rectangle, with a thickness which is different from that of another part, for example the part which is derived from the abovementioned trapezium.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the joining is laser welding.

[0014] By laser welding, it is possible to produce a join which is such that the component can be hydroformed without problems.

[0015] Furthermore, there are advantages if a joining seam between the sheet parts which is formed by joining runs in such a manner that an angle which is included between an imaginary line through the start and end of the joining seam and the axis about which it has been rolled is not zero.

[0016] This results in the joining seam between sheet parts and a joining seam for continuing the pipe section after it has been rolled up not intersecting one another at one point and thus not excessively weakening the pipe section at that point.

[0017] In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet parts which differ from one another include a trapezium-shaped sheet part.

[0018] The rolled-up pipe section then has a tapering or widening section, depending on the orientation of the trapezium.

[0019] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a pipe section produced by rolling up a flat sheet which is suitable for a B pillar* or a front rail* or a rear rail;

[0021]FIG. 2 shows the same;

[0022]FIG. 3 is for a so-called shot gun;

[0023]FIG. 4 is for a frame side member*

[0024]FIG. 5 is for a seat frame* or a roof bow*;

[0025]FIG. 6 shows the same;

[0026]FIG. 7 shows the same;

[0027]FIG. 8 shows the same;

[0028]FIG. 9 is for a rail*

[0029]FIG. 10 is for a differential*.

[0030] The figures clearly show what type of pipe sections for hydroforming it will be possible to achieve by starting from a flat sheet which has the shape and properties of the desired pipe section but in the form of an opened-out blank and by rolling up this blank, as it were, and making it into a continuous, hydroformable pipe section. 

1. Process for producing a tubular component having, over at least part of its length, a widening or tapering section comprising the steps of: joining together flat sheet parts which differ from one another, at least one of the sheet parts being trapezium-shaped, bringing together opposite edges of the joined sheet parts and joining the edges in such a manner that the tubular component formed in this way can be hydroformed, and hydroforming the component.
 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the joining is laser welding.
 3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a joining seam between the sheet parts which is formed by joining runs in such a manner that an angle which is included between an imaginary line through the start and end of the joining seam and the axis about which it has been rolled is not zero. 